"Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know." Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott
Alcott was born in Germantown,Pennsylvania om November 29, 1832. She had three sisters; Anna, Elizabeth, and May. All four of them were educated by their father who was a philosopher,and teacher. They were raised under the Christian ideals of their mother. Due to a crop failure in 1876, the Alcotts moved to Concord, Massachussetts. Here, she became friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau frequenting their private libraries often. By 1858, the family relocated to the Orchard House in Concord. The apple orchards, and Victorian style house became the influence for the setting for Little Women. At age 15, Louisa began working multiple jobs including, teacher, servant, seamstress, which influenced a later work Work: A Story of Experience (1873). her family encouraged her to keep a journal of drawings, poems, quick writings and thoughts with her, a habit she always had. Some of the poems in her journals were published under the pen name: A.N. Barnard.
She was writing for the Atlantic Monthly when the Civil War broke out and she enlisted as a nurse and went to the Union Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1862. She published Hospital Sketches in 1863, this exposed the medical horrors of the war. Alcott supported reform movements for Womens'
Rights as well as th abolition of slavery.
Some of her works:
Hospital Sketches (1863)
On Picket Duty (1864)
Nelly's Hospital ( 1865)
The Mysterious Key (1867)
Little Women (1668) - Her well known work
Work: A Story of Experiences (1873)
Eight COusins ( 1875)
A Rose In Bloom
Under the Lilacs (1878)
Jack and Jill ( 1880)
Marjorie's Three Gifts (1899)
Influences:
Louisa May Alcott lived during the time of the Transcedental Movement, a time when literacy and philospohy was on the rise. She was good friends with Transcentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. Also her surroundings played a large role in influencing her work, i.e: her home in MA was the inspiration for Little Women. Her family especially her dad, helped shape the ideals that were evident in her work.
Why Alcott is legendary:
Alcott has become synomous with the word classic. From stories of war tragedy to children's tales Alcott has written in many styles, excelling at them all. She has permanently left her impression in American literature, and opened the nation's eyes during tough times. Even today, her work is read and enjoyed by all ( especially Little Women), she has surpassed the standards for women of her time period, and set a new example to follow.
What influence Alcott had on American Literature:
Alcott had written pieces of various styles to amuse readers. She wrote humorous stories for children to enjoy ( Jack and Jill, Nelly's Hospital, etc.), and wrote stories that showed the devastation of families during wartime (Little Women, Hospital Sketches, etc.) Her stories moved people deeple and gave them a glimpse of the time period. She was alos of the greatest Transcedentalist writers, following the footsteps of Emerson, and Thoreau.
Which novel or short story had the most impact on American history?
The novel that impacted American history the most has to Little Women. She used her family to portray the happenings during wartime. Her story is morally and physically accurate because she based it from her own experiences and lived though it. This impacts history because it gives a depiction of life during the war, and what tragedies it caused, and the feeling it provoked. It is probably one of the most accurate descriptions of this time period. It is still popular today and has been turned into plays, musicals, and has been translated into many languages. Sources: http://us2.flamingtext.com/net-fu/jobs/141130576.htmlMoving graphics! Read more about Alcott!http://cse.hci.edu.sg/smtp/litreview/books.jpgImages
"Do the things you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know." Louisa May Alcott
She was writing for the Atlantic Monthly when the Civil War broke out and she enlisted as a nurse and went to the Union Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1862. She published Hospital Sketches in 1863, this exposed the medical horrors of the war. Alcott supported reform movements for Womens'
Rights as well as th abolition of slavery.
Some of her works:
- Hospital Sketches (1863)
- On Picket Duty (1864)
- Nelly's Hospital ( 1865)
- The Mysterious Key (1867)
- Little Women (1668) - Her well known work
- Work: A Story of Experiences (1873)
- Eight COusins ( 1875)
- A Rose In Bloom
- Under the Lilacs (1878)
- Jack and Jill ( 1880)
- Marjorie's Three Gifts (1899)
Influences:Louisa May Alcott lived during the time of the Transcedental Movement, a time when literacy and philospohy was on the rise. She was good friends with Transcentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. Also her surroundings played a large role in influencing her work, i.e: her home in MA was the inspiration for Little Women. Her family especially her dad, helped shape the ideals that were evident in her work.
Why Alcott is legendary:
Alcott has become synomous with the word classic. From stories of war tragedy to children's tales Alcott has written in many styles, excelling at them all. She has permanently left her impression in American literature, and opened the nation's eyes during tough times. Even today, her work is read and enjoyed by all ( especially Little Women), she has surpassed the standards for women of her time period, and set a new example to follow.
What influence Alcott had on American Literature:
Alcott had written pieces of various styles to amuse readers. She wrote humorous stories for children to enjoy ( Jack and Jill, Nelly's Hospital, etc.), and wrote stories that showed the devastation of families during wartime (Little Women, Hospital Sketches, etc.) Her stories moved people deeple and gave them a glimpse of the time period. She was alos of the greatest Transcedentalist writers, following the footsteps of Emerson, and Thoreau.
Which novel or short story had the most impact on American history?
The novel that impacted American history the most has to Little Women. She used her family to portray the happenings during wartime. Her story is morally and physically accurate because she based it from her own experiences and lived though it. This impacts history because it gives a depiction of life during the war, and what tragedies it caused, and the feeling it provoked. It is probably one of the most accurate descriptions of this time period. It is still popular today and has been turned into plays, musicals, and has been translated into many languages.
Sources:
http://us2.flamingtext.com/net-fu/jobs/141130576.htmlMoving graphics!
Read more about Alcott!http://cse.hci.edu.sg/smtp/litreview/books.jpgImages